The October 28, 1979, landsliding on Tutuila, American Samoa
Buchanan-Banks JM. 1981. The October 28, 1979, landsliding on Tutuila, American Samoa. Open file report 81-81. United States Geological Survey. Washington, DC
In an apparently short time interval in the early morning of October 28, 1979, more than 70 landslides occurred on Tutuila Island, American Samoa. They were confined to the western end of the island from Asili on the south shore to Massacre Bay on the north. One of the landslides in Seetaga caused four fatalities; the others caused property damage and blocked the main transportation route on the west end of the island. Although there were rumors of an earthquake immediately preceding the landsliding, an examination of the seismograph from Apia Observatory, Western Samoa, for the morning of October 28 shows no record of an earthquake. Heavy rains during the preceding few days coupled with the generally steep slopes and deeply weathered geologic materials appear to have caused the slope failures. There is abundant evidence both visually and on aerial photographs taken in 1941 and 1960 that landslides are frequent occurrences in the effected area.